Gymnastics help Byrd find her niche in life

To satisfy her daughter, Val Byrd signed Mallory up to participate in dance classes so she could learn ballet, tap, and jazz steps.

She quickly discovered Mallory needed a certain kind of movement.

"It wasn''t her thing," Val Byrd said of the dance classes.

It wasn''t difficult for the Byrds to find an alternative.

Mallory''s love for watching Olympic gymnastics turned out to be the motivation to get involved in the high-speed, high-flying sport.

Val Byrd wasn''t sure what her daughter was getting into.

"At first I was afraid she would get injured," Val Byrd said. "When she used to do her bar routine I wouldn''t watch."

Val Byrd has gotten over her fear in part because Mallory is apt to deliver an amazing or championship performance every time she competes.

Last month, Mallory, 12, scored a 37.175 in the all-around to win the state championship in the Prep Optional 3 Gold Division in Tupelo.

The victory secured Byrd a berth in the USA Gymnastics Prep Optional Regional, which begins Friday and runs through Sunday in Panama City, Fla.

The Byrds were scheduled to leave for the meet this morning after Mallory went to school to take a test and to maintain perfect attendance since she started kindergarten.

Byrd, who lives in Columbus, trains at the Starkville Gymnastics Club. She started in gymnastics last January and is primed to move up to level 7 next year.

Val Byrd has been pleasantly surprised at how quickly her daughter has taken to gymnastics.

"Much prayer (has helped me be able to watch her)," Byrd said. "I asked the Lord, ''Is this what she is supposed to do?'' There are negative things about all sports and there are going to be risks. But gymnastics? She loves it and is doing well."

Mallory said her love of tumbling helped convince her to get started in gymnastics. She said she has learned to love the heights she can reach in her exercises and that she hasn''t been surprised she has had so much success so fast.

"I go to practice on a regular basis and give 100 percent every time I go," Byrd said. "It is amazing that you can jump in the air and do all kinds of flips. It is really, really fun."

Mallory said she wasn''t sure she would win a state championship March 21 because the first marks she earned were lower than the ones she had received earlier in the season. It took her a little time to figure out the judging was a little tougher. When she realized that she discovered she still was getting the top scores.

Mallory believes the judging this weekend will be even tougher, but she said she excited about the challenge.